TLE/ TVL- Organic Agriculture Production – 12

PREPARE COMPOSTING AREA AND RAW MATERIALS

QUARTER 2 Week 4

Student’s Name: ______________________________Grade/Section: _________

I.LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
 Gather Materials for Organic Fertilizer Based on Production
Requirement and PNS.
TLE_AFOA9-12OF-Ia-j-IIa-j-1.

II. INTRODUCTION

This SMILE learner’s packet discusses the materials to be gathered for

the production of organic compost. Nitrogen rich and carbon rich materials to
be used in a compost pile is also identified and the list of prohibited materials
are also included in order to serve as your guide when selecting and gathering
the raw materials to be piled in a compost.

Raw materials are to be gathered and collected for the compost pile. The
flat, pancake-like piles will not compost well and will lose more nutrients than
deeper piles. The length and width of the pile can exceed on the given
dimensions (1 meter height X 1 meter width X 1 meter in length) but the
height of the pile should not exceed 8-10ft because the composting organisms
may be killed if the height of the pile exceeds this height.

The use of untreated sewage and manure containing human feces shall
not be used on vegetable production for human consumption, unless it has
undergone a process of anaerobic fermentation (e.g., biogas process or high
temperature composting is not permitted in organic farming.
(PNS/BAFPS07:2003).

Materials for composting are divided into two classes:

1. Nitrogen-rich materials are those that are still in a living state. Fresh
leaves, fresh grass clippings, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds are all
nitrogen-rich. These materials should only compose about 1/4 of your pile
by volume, or the compost will begin emitting an ammonia-like smell.

Page 1 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
2. Carbon - rich materials are those that are dead and inert. Paper,
cardboard, and sawdust are examples of carbon-rich materials. These
items should compose about 3/4 of your compost by volume.
Examples of Common Carbonaceous and Nitrogenous Materials
for Compost Piles

Carbonaceous Materials Nitrogenous Materials

Sawdust Garden residues Green leaves
Wood chips Tree leaves Legume hay
Bark chips Straw Coffee grounds Soil
Paper Nut shells Tea bugs Manure
Grass hay Grass clippings
Yard trimmings (non-green) Spoiled vegetables
Carbonaceous materials have wide C: N (e.g., C: N > 100:1) ratios and
Nitrogenous materials have narrow C: N (e.g., C: N < 35:1) ratios. As a guide an
approximate nitrogen content and C/N ratio for some compostable materials are as
follows:

An approximate nitrogen content and C/N ratio for some compostable materials

Materials Nitrogen % dry weigh C/N ratio

Urine 15 0.8
Mixed slaughterhouse waste 7-10 2
Night Soil 5.5 - 6.5 6-10
Digested sewage sludge 1.9 16
Activated sludge 5.6-6.0 6
Young grass clippings 4.0 12
Cabbage 3.6 12
Weeds 2.0 19
Grass clippings (ave. mixed) 2.14 19
Farmyard Manure (average) 2.15 14
Seaweed 1.9 19
Potato haulms 1.5 25
Oat straw 1.05 48
Wheat straw 0.3 128
Fresh sawdust 0.11 511
Newspaper nil ---
Food wastes 2.0 -3.0 15
Fruit waste 1.5 35
Refuse 0.5-1.4 30-80
Wood 0.07 700
Paper 0.2 170

Source:http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/LAPID%20et%20al
%201996%20Composting%20in%20Philippines.pdf (July 17, 2015 / 5:35pm)

Page 2 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
 Paper can be used but should not exceed 10% of the volume of the pile. Waxed
paper will be resistant to decay, and colored paper may contain heavy metals. The use
of these materials should be avoided.

Nitrogen fertilizers may be added by sprinkling them over a foot- deep layer of
organic matter during the construction of the pile. The microorganisms that are carrying
out the composting like bacterias, fungi, protozoa, and rotifers utilize ammonia Cal
nitrogen in preference to nitrate nitrogen, so ammonium-based fertilizers are better
than nitrate-based fertilizers. Suitable fertilizers would be urea, ammonium sulfate,
ammonium nitrate, seed meals, dried blood, manures, and sewage from non-industrial
sources. Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and urea, though in chemical forms of
nitrogen will be converted into organic forms by the biological processes of composting.

Soil is another source of inoculum of microorganisms that perform composting.

The amount of soil dug from underneath an old compost or from barnyard should be
added but not to exceed one-half inch to 1 inch for every foot of compost in the file.
Addition of phosphorous fertilizers enhances the compost. Rock phosphate,
bone meal are suitable.
Increase in alkalinity accelerates the loss of ammonia by volatilization and will
lower the value of the final compost, so addition of lime or wood should be avoided.
They should be added to the soil which compost is applied not to the compost directly if
needed.
Coal ash or coal-based charcoal ash, bones, meat and grease should not be
added.
Any plant-based material can be added to a compost bed. Vegetable scraps,
coffee grounds and filters, paper, cardboard, and yard clippings are all examples of
materials that can be added to compost pile. These materials can be divided into
carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich types.

Materials for Organic Fertilizer

Source:http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pls/portallive/docs/1/33729700.PDF/(July 15,
2015/7:00am)

Page 3 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
 List of Recommended Raw Materials as Inputs for Organic Fertilizer Production

Inputs
Farm animal manure, slurry, and urine
Vermi compost
Compost produced from organic residues
Green manure and green leaf manure
Azolla
Mulches from sugar cane, trash, straw, etc.
Kitchen waste
Coir pith, plantation by-products and wastes
Mushroom beds
Oil cakes, milled by-products, etc.
Tea / coffee grounds
Fish and fish products without preservatives
Seaweed
Crop residues (straw, peanut hulls, etc.)
Microbial preparations (i.e., Trichoderma, Rhizobia,
Mycorrhizae, others) of non-GMO origin

Source: Philippine National Standard -Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product

Standards 40:2013

List of Restricted and Prohibited raw materials as inputs for Organic Fertilizer
Production
Inputs
Raw / undecomposed human
excrement, including urine
Sewage sludge
Saw dust, bark, wood chips,
wood ash
By-products of plant origin of
food and textile industries
Blood meal, bone, and other
meal brought in from sources.
Guano
Segregated biodegradable
market waste
Sedimentary rocks
(limestone, dolomite, rock
phosphate)
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
Status Notes / Limitations / Rationale
R Risk of contamination
R Only sludge from farms/ biodigesters is
allowed
R Wood not chemically treated after
felling
R Without synthetic additives and
residues
R Origin of materials should be disease-
free and without preservatives
R Concerns on environmental
sustainability - rate of extraction is
subject to DENR regulations.
R Has undergone proper segregation,
and does not contain hazardous
materials
R May contain elevated levels of trace
elements. Detailed chemical analysis is
necessary. Their widespread extraction
can also deplete the natural deposits
and may cause negative environmental
impact. Rate of extraction is subject to
Page 4 of 9
 DENR regulations
R (Andesite, basalt, gabbro, diorite)
May contain elevated levels of trace
Igneous rocks (andesite, elements. Detailed chemical analysis is
basalt, gabbro, diorite necessary. May contain high levels of
Metamorphic rocks (slate, R heavy metals and should not be
schist allowed. Their widespread extraction
can also deplete the natural deposits
and may cause negative environmental
impact. Rate of extraction is subject to
DENR regulations
Source: Philippine National Standard -Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product
Standards 40:2013

III. ACTIVITIES
 Activity 1.1
Directions: Classify the raw materials for composting below. Write C if
Carbonaceous materials and N if Nitrogenous materials on the blank
provided in each item.
1. Manure _____ 6. Spoiled vegetables _____
2. Paper _____ 7. Grass hay _____
3. Straw _____ 8. Wood chips _____
4. Legume hay _____ 9. Green leaves _____
5. Sawdust _____ 10. Nut shells _____

 Activity 1.2

Following IATF Protocol on COVID-19 pandemic, always observe physical

distancing and equip yourself with complete personal protective equipment,
especially face mask/ shield.
Don’t forget to wash your hands every after you have performed outdoor
activities and use sanitizers like alcohol.

Directions:
1. Gather biodegradable materials that are abundant in your surroundings such as
nitrogen source and carbon source materials.
2. Make a list of the gathered biodegradable materials for composting in your
notebook with its date on when you have gathered the materials. This will serve
as your reference for the next activities in this subject.
3. Write also the materials you have gathered in in the tables below and classify if
it
is nitrogen source or carbon source materials.

Page 5 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
 Gathered Materials for Composting

Nitrogenous Materials Carbonaceous Materials

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.

 Activity II: Multiple Choice

Direction: Read and analyze each question and choose the best answer
from the given choices below. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which among the following composting materials should not be used because it
contains heavy metals?
A. Coal ash
B. Vegetable scraps
C. Sawdust and wood
D. Waxed paper and colored paper

2. What would result if there is too low temperature in a pile?

A. It won’t heat up making the decomposition slow
B. Decomposition process is fast
C. Living organism which is helpful in the decomposition process will
not thrive
D. Living organism will multiply to help hasten decomposition
3. Why we should never pile the composting materials above 8-10feet?
A. It may cause foul odor
B. It may not decompose easily
C. The composting organisms may be killed
D. The pile will tend to have high temperature
4. How would you determine nitrogen rich materials that can be used in composting?
A. They are in a living state like fresh grass clippings
B. They are dead and inert materials like sawdust
C. They are green colored materials
D. They decompose for a short period of time
5. Why you should be aware of the restricted materials to use in composting?
A. To produce quality organic compost
B. To prevent contamination of the product
C. To know which is not to be used
D. To hasten the decomposition process

Page 6 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
IV. RUBRICS FOR SCORING
 Activity II
Your performance will be scored using this rubric.

(20pts) (15pts) (10pts) (5pts)

Gathered 4 or Gathered 3 kinds Gathered 2 kinds Gathered 1 kind of
more kinds of of carbon rich and of carbon rich carbon rich and
carbon rich and nitrogen rich and nitrogen rich nitrogen rich
nitrogen rich materials for materials for materials for
materials for composting, 1 composting, 2 composting,
composting and material were not materials were materials were not
classified correctly. classified correctly not classified classified correctly
correctly

VI. REFLECTION
Complete the sentence below.

1. The new things I have learned today ____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
I can apply it in my daily life _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.______________________
VI. REFERENCES:

Philippine National Standard -Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product

Standards 40:2013

Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture Specification, DTI, Bureau

of Product Standard, pp. 8-9; 29-30

Organic Agriculture Production Manual

Page 7 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
 DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Writer/s: Masbate
IRENE E. RALLOS

Content JOSEPH E. SANCHEZ- DIVISION

Validator/s: WINKY B. SIA - DIVISION Masbate
IAN CHRISTOPHER J. COS-
DIVISION
EFREN F. VARGAS - DIVISION
JUANCHO P. AZARES - DIVISION Albay
ELVEI P. NACIONAL - REGION
Language
Editor/s:
Illustrator/Lay-
Out Artist:
Reviewer/s: MARIZZA C. VARGAS- DIVISION EPS/ MASBATE CITY
EDGAR A. RIMA – REGION PSDS-CATANDUANES
MEGUEL P. BARCIA AFA COORDINATOR
CAMSUR
ROV GRACE U. RABELAS EPS, LRMDS
Development CHRISTIE L. ALVAREZ EPS,
Team EPP/TLE/TVE/TVL
FRANCISCO B. BULALACAO, JR. CLMD Chief
GILBERT T. SADSAD Regional Director

Page 8 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4
 KEY TO CORRECTIONS

Activity I Activity II

1. N 6. N 1. D
2. C 7. C 2. A
3. C 8. C 3. C
4. N 9. N 4. A
5. C 10.C 5. A

Activity III

Performance task – scores depend on leaners output

refer to rubrics in rating output

Page 9 of 9
RO _Organic Agriculture Production _Grade 12_Q2_ LP 4